LeBlanc: Teen driving law needs changing
A Westland City Council member was in Lansing recently to press for passage of a House bill that would revise the Michigan Driver Education Graduated Licensing law.
Richard LeBlanc, a part-time driver education instructor, testified in Lansing on Nov 1, before the Michigan House of Representatives Transportation Committee, chaired by Rep. Phil LaJoy, R-Canton, and vice-chaired by Rep. Glenn Anderson, D- Westland.
The committee was considering HB 4756, which would limit a first-year driver under 18 years of age to one non-family member passenger in a vehicle that they are driving.
"I speak in support of HB 4756 because I believe it's both wanted and necessary, and because my experience as a (Canton) reserve police officer is that passengers contribute substantially to driver distractions and accidents,"
LeBlanc told the committee. "Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-20-year-olds, and most teen fatal crashes occur when passengers, usually other teenagers, are in the vehicle.
"Two out of every three teenagers who die in a vehicle crash are passengers in a vehicle driven by another teenager. This is a staggering statistic."
LeBlanc also told the committee that the bill "places sensible limitations on new teenage drivers until their skills have had a chance to become refined."
"Household transportation concerns have been addressed with the provision excluding immediate family members from the restriction," he said.
The Michigan State Police as well as AAA of Michigan support the bill.
The committee voted 13 yeas/1 pass to send the bill to the full House of Representatives with a recommendation for approval.
Originally published November 13, 2005
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Westland City Councilman Richard LeBlanc testifies before the Michigan State House Transportation Committee.
Reprinted from the Westland Observer & Eccentric Newspaper
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